Ball game apparatus



g 5, 1952 J. P. HORNIG 2,606,025

BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALL GAMEAPPARATUS John P. Hornig, Newark, N. J.

Application August 18, 1949, Serial No. 110,984

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a ball game apparatus wherein a captive ballmay be struck by the hand or a bat or racquet to cause it to encircleits support in one direction and thereafter under spring urging toreverse direction and return to its original position at rest.

One object of this invention is to provide a device for practice inhitting a ball with a bat or racquet. Another object is to furnish agame apparatus in which skill is required to achieve a maximum number ofcomplete circles travelled by a struck ball. Still another object is toprovide such apparatus that may be economically made in a variety ofsizes.

The invention is described in the accompanying drawings in which Figure1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of the tubular arm from which the ballis suspended.

Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the tubular armof Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of a modifiedtubular arm.

Referring to the drawings in which the same number refers to the same ora similar part the construction of one embodiment of this invention isas follows.

Base I is of such weight, size and material as will furnish asubstantial support during the use of the apparatus. Mounted in suchbase is vertical post 2 from which at the top extends horizontally arm 3which in this illustration is tubular in construction. Arm 3 is closedat its outer end by closure 9 which has an opening centrally locatedtherein to permit axle l to extend therethrough. Axle l in the preferredform ofthis invention is best shown in Figure 3 which indicates that itbears in enclosure 9 at one end and is secured at the other end torotatable disc 8 which is free to rotate within arm 3. Rigidly securedto the projecting portion 12 of the axle is a length of rigid wire 5which carries at its other end ball 4. Within arm 3 and surrounding axlel is coil spring 6 which is secured at one end to rotatable disc 8 andat the other end is anchored at ID to closure 9.

A modified form of arrangement internal of arm 3 is shown in Figure 4wherein coil spring 6 i anchored at directly to arm 3 with its other endattached to a short axle II which bears in and passes through closure 9.Externally the modified form appears just as the preferred form in thatwire is secured to end 12 of the short axle H.

The game apparatus functions as follows. When ball 4 is struck it willrevolve about the end is struck sufilciently hard to cause it to makefive complete revolutions in one direction, the spring will thereaftercause it to make five complete revolutions in the opposite direction.

Many modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing fromthe scope of my invention. For example, the spring means may be placedoutside of arm 3 or other means may be employed to store up energysufficient to cause restoration of the parts after they have come torest following the striking of the ball. Suitably disposedcounterweights may also be employed to facilitate the restoration orreversal of direction of rotation. The apparatus may be made in varioussizes from miniature to full scale baseball sized devices.

What I claim is:

1. A ball game apparatus comprising a base; a vertical post mountedthereon; a horizontal arm secured to the post; an axle within said armprojecting outward therefrom; a ball; alength of rigid wire fixed at oneend at right angles to such axle and having the ball secured to itsother end; and energy of rotation storing and releasing means operablyconnected with such axle.

2. A ball game apparatus comprising a base; a vertical post mountedthereon; a tubular horizontal arm securedat the top of such post; acoiled spring horizontally supported throughout its length within sucharm with one of its ends fixedly secured thereto; an axle within sucharm connected to the free end of the coiled spring and projectingoutward of such arm; a ball; and a length of rigid wire connected at oneextremity to the outward end of the axle and at the other extremity tothe ball.

3. A ball game apparatus comprising a base; a vertical post mountedthereon; a tubular horizontal arm secured at one end at the top of suchpost; a closure for the extended end of the said arm; a coiled springsupported within such arm I and fixedly secured at one end thereto; anaxle or" arm 3 carrying with it wire 5 and turning the connected to thefree end of such coiled spring and projecting outward of the armclosure; a length of rigid wire fixed at one extremity to the outwardend of said axle; and a ball attached to the other extremity of saidwire.

JOHN P. HORNIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,023.125 Connable Apr. 16, 19121,603,094 Owens Oct. 12, 1926 1,881,384 Albera Oct. 4, 1932 1,932,049Ryan Oct. 24, 1933 2,017,720 Lake Oct. 15, 1935 2,305,187 Neiden Dec.15, 1942 2,496,795 Johnson Feb. 7, 1950

